Paul Ruinaard

I was involved in a simmilar string about 3 years ago - its a long story but basically i was of the same opinion - i can fit myself and with age and growing degeneration you must just suck up some of the pain. Anyway after much back pain and back and forth with some of the guys on the hub that are in the trade i was convinced to go to Richard Baxter for a fit. He did pressure on the saddle and also fitted for a person my size i.e. a prop forward rather than Pantani. I ended up with Pedal extensions for Q factor of 20mm as well as looking at saddle pressure and bringing me more upright as, lets say, i have spread out a little. First ride out the Garmin indicated an increase in VO2 max and FTP. Both went up about 10%. That was week to week on a route in the cradle. This was all from a bike fit - i changed nothing else and it was over a weeks period. As they say the data doesn't lie. I would say i got a bike fitter that understood what i wanted and wasn't using a series of formulas from a manual but focused on me. Do some research and get a good fitter. Its worthwhile.

I tried but its very complex and costly. Rather hire local bikes. Airlines will not let you fly with ebikes with batteries attached and to ship them separately is very expensive. You have to get them on a fright only flight and then they need to be specially packed and handled. I was trying to get an extender alos during COVID times. Good luck but its a mission.

arent there roadworks on the R 301 past Boschenmeer on your route ? Too many amateur rally drivers with potentially alcohol enhanced abilities over the weekend IMO so would it not be better to choose a weeknight...

always look forward to your photo posts of your weeknd on a Monday morning. Seems like you just always riding in a picture skew part of the world or you are a damned good photographer

Between 2015 and 2025 it doubled in price. It would be really interesting to map that against entrants, although i think the peak years were earlier. 2020 seems to be the time they thought screw it lets squeeze the lemon.

Did all of the above - Oukaaps, Cape of storms and then both the short version and the cancelled version. Cape of Storms in 2009 which was a tough day in the saddle. I had gone on an MTB bent so had lost any seeding indexes I had and started about 9:45 am in the teeth of the storm, about an hour late. Nothing like being on a start line at a race when the blue portaloo rockets come blowing on their side down the road when you are going in to the pens, and then at Imhoffs I had my front wheel switched out as i was third in a line of guys and went OTB and trashed my helmet which i had just bought the day before at the expo. I finished but i wonder why, Clear memories of pedalling down Boyes drive having to stand on the pedals in to the teeth of the South Easter when going downhill. We went over Boyes as the road was being fixed through to Muizenberg. Just for sh!ts and giggles. 47km Short version was on a tandem with my wife whose birthday was on the day so she spent most of the race socializing. I pedalled her around the peninsula that day. I am glad it was a short ride. The cancelled one: I had a new Roubaix and wasnt that fit so i kind of figured "look i am here and came all the way from Jhb so might as well ride" but knew I was in for a very long day from the cape of storms experience and as i was much less fit than 2009, I decided to carbo load and load every fuel known to man in to me just in case. So equivalent of double breakfast and 4 x caffeine sachets in me. Then as I am resigned to my fate and am walking out the door with my eyeballs bouncing up against each other because i am so wired to go my wife says "its been cancelled". Took me about four hours to come down from the rush of sugare and caffeine. My 21st ride was in the peeing rain three years ago as well just to add insult to injury. I hated Oukaaps - it was IMO a very tough route - i was the fittest and fastest i ever would be but that route was my undoing....

Entered already but they are definitely riding on reputation or maybe my level of excitement with the event has diminished now i live in the Cape. Its now easier to charge the battery on the ebie than put in the Kms that are required for the fitness i need. Will be #23. I need something to jolt my fat self in to action.

Been here 16 years. Eventually switched from an alias to my name as i felt if you are willing to have an opinion behind a keyboard you must be willing to back it yourself and not hide behing an alter ego (like most keyboard warriors IMO) You need to own your points of view and that certainly tempered my willingness to fly off the handle. Started as IQof2. 16 years = Thats a long time in any ones books especially mine. I arrived here after a lot of us migrated over from a forum in Jhb called Spinman - I think it was a guy called Terry who ran that - that forum was properly crazy. When I got here i was quickly taught some house rules by the "sheriff" and his posse. I have had my fair share of scraps in here with people on technical topics and many other areas which are completely cycling unrelated. The details fade but the feelings remain. We have counselled people through divorce and crashes. Advocated for discs and tech vs old skool. The epic threads fade from memory but the ones i still have saved somewhere are the ones about needing to stop for a "bossie" after the carbs skommel up in your stomach after day 2 of a race and you are 6 hours in. What do you use for wiping? I still to this day ride trails looking at furry leaves and grasses and thinking about whether they would be appropriate. The post about the furry leaves not being a good choice and the rash that resembled baboon butt for a week still make me cry with laughter. We had some people here who could write..... Its changed a lot and become commercialised but I suppose everything has to pay its way. I have in my mind how some of the people here became like a family to others and helped many people out along the way without knowing them from adam - just an online presence- definitely a sense of community here and some good things that have been done from it. Also sold a ton of goods here and shipped to others - never had a bad transaction and have literally gone on faith many times. Well done guys - hopefully here for another 20.

I empathize. I also tend to go real estate shopping, especially when on my own and attempting something i will easily ride and normally fall my ar$e off and get to sit in the flowers licking my wounds on my own. I am sure its about doubly as painful when no one sees you.

where do you get said 1,85mm spacer ?

I have a wheelset with an XDR freebody but I need to put an 11 speed cluster on it for the Shimano Ultgera group i have on the bike - does such a beast exist ? If so wheer can i get one. Seems to be an unusual ask i.e. XDR is 12 speed.

Just sold mine on the hub. Had it since 2001 when i bought it new from AVH. I had all the orignal invoices. Sold it two months ago. That bike was the one that i did all my major rides on and was a piece of my lfe for many years. It stood around for the last couple of years so i moved it to a Colnago lover on the hub so it can get used again. It amazes me how so many of the roadbikes people post here are Colnago's

eish spray it internally with Q20 to displace moisture, but ebikes and specifically batteries dont like high pressure hoses. Even low pressure garden hoses can be an issue. I have had the same issues and it cost me a battery and those arent cheap...

Mine as well. was also wondering about battery replacement rather than a new watch or credit. the watch works wonderfully and is more than what i need. Maybe run it under battery saver until needed. Thats my plan.